Orchestra works a little differently from band. The four string instruments — violin, viola, cello, and double bass — all share a family of technique, and your director assigns students across them to build a balanced ensemble. Violin and cello are the most common first instruments simply because orchestras need a lot of them.
The single most important decision with strings isn't brand — it's size. A correctly sized instrument is the difference between a student who plays in tune comfortably and one who fights their instrument every day. We size students in person, free, before a rental.
The four string instruments at a glance
| Instrument | Range / role | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Violin | Highest voice; melody | Most beginners; smaller hands welcome (sized) |
| Viola | Alto voice; warm middle | Students who read alto clef; slightly larger reach |
| Cello | Tenor/bass voice; rich tone | Students drawn to a deeper sound; seated playing |
| Double bass | Foundation of the orchestra | Taller students; often assigned later |
Viola is often under-recruited, so a student open to it can be in high demand — worth asking your director about. Double bass is large and usually assigned to taller or older beginners, though smaller fractional basses exist.
Start with the director — and let interest guide the rest
As with band, your orchestra director's assignment comes first. They balance section sizes and know which instruments need players this year. Within that, a student's attraction to a particular voice — the brightness of a violin, the depth of a cello — is a strong predictor of who keeps practicing.
Size is everything
String instruments come in fractional sizes — for violin, 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full (4/4). The right size lets a student reach every note and hold proper posture without strain. A too-large instrument causes poor technique and sore arms; a too-small one limits tone and growth.
Sizing is based on arm length and body measurements, not age alone, so two same-age students can need different sizes. Because students grow, renting makes especially good sense for strings — you can exchange sizes as the student grows instead of re-buying. See our dedicated String Instrument Sizing Guide to measure at home before you come in.
Bow, rosin, and a proper setup
- A bow sized to match the instrument (rentals include one).
- Rosin — applied to the bow hair so it grips the strings and makes sound. A new bow won't sound until it's rosined.
- A shoulder rest (violin/viola) or a rock stop/end-pin anchor (cello/bass) for stable, comfortable posture.
- A professional setup: correct bridge height, smooth pegs, and good strings. A poorly set-up instrument is hard to play even when it's the right size — this is where buying a quality-checked rental beats a bargain online instrument.
Rent first — strings especially
Because students grow through fractional sizes, a rent-to-own plan is often the most economical path through the early years: exchange for the next size up as needed, with maintenance and repair coverage included, and equity building toward a full-size instrument when the student is done growing. When they're ready to step up to an intermediate instrument, we'll help you choose.